Water Vapor



Water Vapor
Atmospheric water vapor is determined by the Special Sensor Microwave/Imager (SSM/I) sensor which is flown on a series of Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) satellites. By comparing the microwave emmisions over the ocean in several bands, the presence of water vapor is estimated.

Variability in water vapor is more spatial than temporal. The Bay of Bengal has values of W consistently higher than the rest of the IO, reaching over 60 kg/m^2 for the months of June, July, August and Septemper. While the Arabian Sea above 15N has less than 30 kg/m^2 for the months November thru April. For the complimentary period of May thru October south of ~18S W is always below 30 kg/m^2.

Click here to see an animated movie of water vapor data.

Water vapor time series